Cat Porterfield is a wife, mother, realtor, and accomplished journalist recognized for her work in military and local news. Her experience involves analyzing school and city budgets, closely monitoring development projects, and immersing herself in the mechanics of community functioning. She plans to inform and engage citizens, prioritize constituents' interests, and be an unbiased voice for her community. Coming from a Navy family and sharing a deep connection to Virginia Beach Public Schools through her son, she brings a personal investment in the community's success.

She has pledged to make no law or put forward any votes restricting a woman’s access to abortion and asserts that reproductive rights are on the ballot in November. Fighting for reproductive rights is the top priority on her website. Her stances have earned her an endorsement from Roe Your Vote Virginia and another from Vote Pro-Choice. Her commitment to affordable healthcare access echoes her position on this issue.

Porterfield supports a multifaceted approach to gun violence prevention that involves several elements: fostering community healing, encouraging positive masculinity, providing summer employment for at-risk teens, employing street intervention experts, utilizing professional violence interrupters, enacting measures to disarm domestic abusers, ensuring scrutiny when a legal gun purchase fails a background check, and establishing accountability measures for law enforcement officers.

Her pledge to protect communities extends to issues of equality. She has called out her opponent for inserting her personal religious beliefs into her politics and promises that she will protect the LGBTQ+ community. She wants to keep Republicans’ hands off schools and teachers and likens their attempts at book banning to the disastrous No Child Left Behind policy. Additionally, she abhors Republicans’ attempts to force gender conformity onto students and teachers.

She understands the importance of sustainable, clean water and acknowledges the threat of sea level rise. She pledges to propose and support measures to decrease water pollution, safeguard wetlands and water bodies, and encourage responsible water usage. Additionally, she aims to boost the adoption of eco-friendly transportation choices. She is committed to promoting sustainable agriculture, including supporting the growth and sale of marijuana. She opposes reversing marijuana decriminalization and intends to aid farmers in entering the industry through programs and incentives akin to tobacco farming support in the past, recognizing marijuana's medicinal value.

Incumbent Republican Delegate Anne Ferrell Tata is a medical sales representative, author, and wife of a Navy veteran. Tata voted for HB 212, which requires reinstating the mandatory waiting period before a person can get an abortion. She was a co-sponsor for HB 1387, which prevents trans kids from playing sports.

Given Porterfield’s stances and record, she is the clear progressive choice in this race. Close Window